Vertical Motion Simulator Handling Qualities Testing of a Piloted eVTOL Vehicle Having a Degraded Powertrain

doi:10.4050/F-0081-2025-0168

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Vertical Motion Simulator Handling Qualities Testing of a Piloted eVTOL Vehicle Having a Degraded Powertrain

Kyle Barnes, Peter Suh, Curt Hanson, NASA Armstrong Research Center

https://doi.org/10.4050/F-0081-2025-0168

Abstract:
This paper presents handling qualities (HQs) research findings for electrical Vertical Take-off and Landing vehicles. Testing in the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) investigated handling qualities of vehicle configurations having a degraded powertrain. Powertrain components, including batteries and electric motors, can degrade as the vehicle is flown. This paper investigates the impact of low battery charge and high motor temperature degradations on the pilot's ability to execute precise maneuvers. Pilot comments and ratings that were collected from four rotorcraft test pilots in VMS testing are used to quantify the effects that powertrain degradations had on the HQs of the vehicle.